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Donald Lasoski, a former Luzerne County deputy sheriff who resigned last month, has been charged with theft amid allegations he stole $375 from the department.

At the time Lasoski abruptly quit, prosecutors indicated charges were uncertain because the missing money was discovered almost immediately and repaid.

"We never said charges would not be filed. We didn't know if charges were warranted," Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis said. "We investigated and felt charged were warranted."

Court records indicate Luzerne County Detective Dan Beky filed a misdemeanor count of theft against Lasoski, 34, with Magisterial District Judge Martin Kane in Wilkes-Barre. The charge was sent to Lasoski via summons on Oct. 1 and a preliminary hearing was set for Nov. 6 at 10 a.m. before Kane.

Salavantis said people "jumped to conclusions" that Lasoski wouldn't face charges because he was a county employee.

"We don't treat anybody differently from the next. Everyone is treated the same," she said.

Lasoski resigned "in lieu of termination" after department officials noticed money missing from the prisoner transport petty cash fund, which sheriffs use for expenses that include buying meals and paying tolls, county officials previously said.

Jack Robshaw, the then-acting sheriff, said he immediately notified the district attorney's office, but did not ask the office to investigate because he had already obtained the "relevant facts" and determined that it should be handled administratively and internally.

Hired by the sheriff's department in 2000 at a salary of $31,550, Lasoski was promoted to lieutenant sheriff this April at a salary of $37,977. Efforts to reach Lasoski on Tuesday were not successful.

Luzerne County Controller Walter Mitchell on Tuesday said he has "been pushing for" charges since news broke on the incident.

"It sets the bar, lets the rest of the county employees know that if they are at all considering dipping their hand into the public till and they are caught, they will be dealt with severely and criminally if necessary," Mitchell said.

"It might seem like a minor matter when you're talking about $350 missing for a couple of days, but that's not the point," Mitchell said. "The point is employees need to know that the county is very serious about their access to taxpayers money and the abuse thereof."

Peter Cameron, staff writer, contributed to this report.

bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com

570-821-2055, @cvbobkal

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